Apparatus for activating the stop slides of organs

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for activating stop slides in the air chambers of an organ has air motors each engaging a piston connected to a slide, said piston being moved within a pressure cylinder by the action of a pressure means.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Karl Michel Tauberrettersheim; FranzHeksler, Markelsheim, both of, Germany 2! Appl. No. 849,708

[22] Filed Aug. 13, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10,1971

[ 73] Assignee Herman L. Schlicker Buffalo, N.Y.

[32] Priority Aug. 19, 1968 33 Germany [54] APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATING THESTOP SLIDES OF ORGANS 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 84/338, 84/343, 84/369 [51] lnt.Cl Gl0h3/l0 PrimaryExaminer-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. GonzalesAlmrney--Ernest F. Marmorek ABSTRACT: An apparatus for activating stopslides in the air chambers of an organ has air motors each engaging apiston connected to a slide, said piston being moved within a pressurecylinder by the action of a pressure means.

PATENTED AUG 1 0 |97| SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG. 1

IN VEN TORS PATENTEB mm 01971 7 (3,598 894 sum 2 0F 2 5 25 lfikman INVEN TOR5:

ikel an/ BY Mas/UL APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATING THE STOP SLI'DES F ORGANSThe invention relates to an apparatus for activating the stop slides inthe air chambers of organs.

It has been known heretofore to draw the stop slides manually by meansof a lever system. This, however, is only feasible with small organs,because of the necessary large force for large organs it is expensiveand difficult to build in.

Another known but unsuitable device are traction magnets orelectromagnets; however, excessive heat is generated due to the requiredvoltage which in turn changes the pitch of the organ pipes, especiallywhen the organ is played for a long time. Wear and tear at the electricswitch terminals, in addition to their extreme complexity andsensitivity leave this' stop slides, however, due to the low pressuregenerated, an

unusually large bellows is needed to create the required tension force.As such, this method necessitates an organ case of mammoth proportions.

Lastly, with heretofore known methods of connectingv several bellows forsimultaneous activation of many slides, a common occurrence was that theorgan or play air reaching the pipes was subject to oscillations orthrusts whereby the quality of the sound emanating from the pipessuffered.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the instant invention toobviate the aforementioned known disadvantages.

It is another object of the invention to insure that the activators forthe stop slides will be of simple construction, assembly and operationand will require little space. I

It is stillanother object to provide for pressure means for theactivation of the slides that is separate and independent of thepressure means such as air, for sounding the organ pipes, therebyobviating any interference with the sound emanation.

It is still another object of the invention to prevent the generation ofheat even during constant operation and thus to facilitate themaintenance of the required voltage.

It is still another object to provide for speed control of the i stopslides, such as activating the slides very quickly where there isrelatively high air pressure.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ofvarious devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof,certain embodiments of same being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the specification.

Briefly, the activation of the slides in accordance with the inventionis accomplished by the addition of small space saving air motors eachfor one slide, connected to the organ frame. These air motors arepractically noiseless andwork free of lubrication and attendance. Theymay be easily mounted by the organ builder without the aid ofaspecialist. In an environment excessively hot, damp or filled with airpollutants, the motors function well due to the lack of sensitivity oftheir parts.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. I is a fragmentary schematic view of a wind box with five stopslides in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a large scale fragmentary elevational view, partly in section,of an activating device; and

FIG. 3 is a large scale fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of amodified activating device.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have beenselected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and fordescription in this specification, there is provided an air chest orwind box 1 having pipe slots 2 and stop slides 3.

Activating mechanisms such as air motors 4 are provided to activate eachstop slide 3 by pressure means such as for instance compressed air, orrarefied air, hereinafter referred to as compressed air.

The .air motors 4 are connected to a distributing conduit 5 to receivethe pressure means, delivered by an air or vacuum pump 6. The supply ofcompressed air is held in a compensator tank 7. An electric motor 8drives the pump 6.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two modifications of the air motor. Referring nowparticularly to FIG. 2, the air motor 4 comprises a movable piston 9, ina two-way pressure cylinder 11. The piston 9 is connected to a stopslide 3 of the air chest 1 by means of its piston rod 13. Thepiston 9works in one direction and is supported on its base by the return spring15. The sealing of the piston 9 is accomplished by a membrane 17.

A three-way magnetic valve 19 is provided which is flanged to thepressure cylinder 11. A magnetic coil 21 positioned just next to thecore spindle 22 controls the valve-once the electric current flowsthrough the coil 21. This is done by the organist touching theappropriate control button for the series of stop slides 3, on theaction table. As in the preferred embodiment, of FIG. 1, themodification of FIG. 2, employs the conduit 23 to deliver the pressuremeans from the source 6.

The three-way valve 19 is set in a predetermined way so that the chamber24 is open towards the atmosphere. Where raretied air is used as thepressure means, the piston 9 is moved to the left by the tension of thecompression spring 15, which in turn closes the stop slide 3. In orderto open the stop slide 3, the three-way valve 19 is switched so that theconnection to the low pressure source 6 is opened, thereby creating lowpressure in the chamber 24. This puts the spring 15 under tension andmoves the piston to the right.

The attached stop slide 3 is thereby opened, and frees the organ air inthe direction of the pipes. The impact sound caused by the movement ofthe piston 9 is rendered practically inaudible by damper disks 25, madeof a suitable material such as for instance, rubber -or felt. The airmotor 4 is firmly mounted on the air chest 1 by means of a supportingbridge 26.,

In the modification of FIG. 3, the piston 10, cylinder 12, piston rod14, return spring and magnetic valve 20 are depicted-essentially in thesame manner as described for FIG. 2. The principal difference, however,is that in FIG. 3 the piston 10 is not sealed by a membrane, but by acuff gasket 18.

The effect of the air motors 4 is different from the above describedoperation when instead of a low pressure or rarefied air there isprovided a pressure creating device 6 such as for instance an aircompressor. In this instance the control of the three-way valveI9'causes the compressed air to enter into the chamber '24 moving thepiston 9 against the power of the return tension spring 15. In reversingthe current, the air escapes from the chamber 24 and the return spring15 will retract the piston 9.

To facilitate operation of the air motor 4 a liquid under pressure maybe employed instead of the air. In this case a return conduit is neededfor the released liquid; however, this conduit is unnecessary withcompression or rarefied air, because the exhaust from the chamber 24,that is the pressure compensation, goes directly into the atmosphere.

Possible exhaust or air compensating noises may be reduced to aninaudible minimum in a simple manner by known sound absorbing means,such as for instance, particular materials with a large porous surface.

It is preferred if not essential that a special device, such as acompressor or vacuum pump produce the pressure means and that the pumpbe kept separate from the source for the air supplied to the organ.

The three-way valve is set in such a manner, when compressed air isused, that when the piston activates the respective slide, the pressurefluid can engage the piston in the pressure cylinder, whereupon therestoring force is created preferably by compression of a spring. inorder to close the slide, the three-way valve is set in such a mannerthat the pressure cylinder forms a connection with the atmosphere.

Due to the excess pressure, the pressure fluid escapes into theatmosphere, readying the device for subsequent closing.

At negative pressure, on the other hand, there is a pressurecompensation with the atmosphere so that the restoring force, such asthe spring becomes effective and closes the slide.

The work piston 9 may either be a single acting piston with a restoringforce, preferably in the form of the spring 15, or be a double actingpiston. For a double acting piston, the supply valves to the twochambers, namely one on each side of the piston must be adjusted in away that the pressure fluid may operate alternately upon either side ofthe piston. Thus, when the piston proceeds in one direction, the slides3 are activated, and upon reversing, the piston travels in the oppositedirection and again closes the slides 3. In this instance the controlelement is preferably a four-way valve accomplishing the following:connection of the pressure fluid to one chamber; and from the latterselectively to the atmosphere; and connection between the second chamberand the atmosphere.

The adjustment of either the three-way valve 19 or a fourway valve intothe various flow paths can be achieved with optional standardizingagents. The valves, preferably magnetic, are activated or controlled, asindicated before, from the action table by means of double stopswitches.

Certain of the advantages of the invention have already been hereinreferred to. It may be useful, however, to allude particularly at thispoint to the fact that the pressure means for the activation of theslides are separate and independent from the air for sounding the organpipes, thereby obviating any interference with the sound.

2. The air motors are very small, and thus space saving.

3. They produce little heat, work free of lubrication and attendance andare practically noiseless.

4. Their simplicity facilitates easy mounting by a layman.

5. Additionally they function well under extremes in climatic andatmospheric conditions due to their lack of sensitive parts.

6. As there is little heating even during constant operation,

the required voltage, of from 12 to 24 volts may be maintained.

7. The speed of the motors is easily regulatable, due to the high airpressure, and as such the stop slides may be activated quickly.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An apparatus, for use in connection with activating the stop slidesof an organ, the sound of which is generated by a compressible soundgenerating fluid the entry of which into the organ pipes is controlledby said stop slides,

comprising in combination,

a cylinder for each stop slide connected with relation to said organ,

a piston oscillatable in said cylinder in opposite directions, andconnected to said slide, said piston when activated activating saidslide,

and fluid pressure means separate and apart from said compressible soundgenerating fluid and operable for activating said piston to move in atleast one of the opposite directions in said cylinder thereby activatingthe slide thereof.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid is compressedair.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure means israrefied air.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and resilient means operable toretract said piston.

5. An apparatus, as c aimed in claim 4, wherein the movemeans operablefor operating said valve means.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and sealing means comprising alip shaped seal ring on said piston.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and sealing means comprising amembrane being sufficient to seal off at least a portion of the interiorof said cylinder against said piston in all positions of said piston.

1. An apparatus, for use in connection with activating the stop slidesof an organ, the sound of whIch is generated by a compressible soundgenerating fluid the entry of which into the organ pipes is controlledby said stop slides, comprising in combination, a cylinder for each stopslide connected with relation to said organ, a piston oscillatable insaid cylinder in opposite directions, and connected to said slide, saidpiston when activated activating said slide, and fluid pressure meansseparate and apart from said compressible sound generating fluid andoperable for activating said piston to move in at least one of theopposite directions in said cylinder thereby activating the slidethereof.
 2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid iscompressed air.
 3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpressure means is rarefied air.
 4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1,and resilient means operable to retract said piston.
 5. An apparatus, asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the movement of said piston in said cylinderis controlled by a three-way valve.
 6. An apparatus, as claimed in claim1, wherein said piston is double acting and the movement of said pistonin said cylinder is controlled by a four-way valve.
 7. An apparatus, asclaimed in claim 1, and valve means, forming control means for saidpressure means.
 8. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, and magneticswitch means operable for operating said valve means.
 9. An apparatus,as claimed in claim 1, and sealing means comprising a lip shaped sealring on said piston.
 10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, andsealing means comprising a membrane being sufficient to seal off atleast a portion of the interior of said cylinder against said piston inall positions of said piston.